Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto

Good to know before you go

Getting there: Shichijō Station · 13 min walk (Keihan Main Line)
Hours: Check-in 15:00, check-out 12:00

Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.

Location

445-3 Myōhōin Maekawachō, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0932, Japan

Myōhōin Maekawachō, Kyoto

About

Nestled in Kyoto's historic Higashiyama district, this ultra-luxury hotel is built around Shakusui-en, an 800-year-old pond garden that dates back to the Heian period. Guests can expect a seamless blend of modern design and traditional craftsmanship, complete with a world-class wellness spa, an indoor pool, and exceptional dining overlooking the water. It is the ultimate retreat for travelers seeking serene, resort-style luxury while remaining close to Kyoto's iconic temples.

What Japanese guides note

The property occupies the historic grounds of Shakusui-en between Myōhō-in temple and the Kyoto National Museum, preserving an 800-year-old pond layout attributed to Taira no Shigemori. Visitors should note that while restaurant patrons can view the garden, the path along the western end of the pond is private and restricted strictly to resident guests. Guests arriving by automobile between 08:00 and 09:00 on weekdays or Saturdays must enter via the Higashioji-dori entrance rather than Onnazaka due to morning school zone vehicle restrictions.

Details from local sources

Vehicular access via the Toyokuni-byō Sandō road, locally known as Onnazaka, leading to the hotel entrance is prohibited for unregistered vehicles between 08:00 and 09:00 from Monday through Saturday. [source]
Shōwa-period garden historian Shigemori Mirei identified the pond garden's late Heian layout from the positioning of a large island abutting the hillside, a smaller island in the water, and stone waterfall arrangements on the slope. [source]
The garden grounds passed to adjacent Myōhō-in temple in 1615, where 17th-century diaries of Cloistered Prince Gyōjō recorded tea pavilions on the property named Shakusui-tei and Shakusui-ken. [source]
The grounds served as Kyoto Senbai Hospital from 1954 and later functioned as Higashiyama Takeda Hospital before the hotel development. [source]

Insider Tip

Book a table at the pondside lounge, Fufu, for a sunset matcha cocktail or traditional tea ceremony overlooking the ancient garden.

Frequently asked

Can non-staying guests visit Shakusui-en and the on-site restaurants?

Non-staying guests can access the grounds and view the Shakusui-en pond garden by booking dining reservations at restaurants such as Emba Kyoto or the pondside tea lounge Fūjū. However, the far western edge of the pond path is restricted to resident building occupants.

How do you reach Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto by public transit?

Take the Keihan Main Line to Shichijō Station and walk east for 13 minutes up the gentle slope. Alternatively, take Kyoto City Bus 206 or 208 from Kyoto Station to the Higashiyama Shichijō stop, from which the hotel approach is a 3-minute walk.

What are the parking charges and valet arrangements at the hotel?

Valet parking costs ¥1,200 per hour for visitors and ¥5,000 per night for overnight guests. Restaurant patrons spending over ¥8,000 receive three hours of free parking. Valet services temporarily halt from 08:00 to 09:00 on Monday through Saturday during local street traffic restrictions.